Henry fled from Baltimore county; disagreement between him and his
so-called master was the cause of his flight. Elias Sneveley, a farmer,
known on the Arabella Creek Place as a "hard swearer," an "old
bachelor," and a common tormentor of all around him, was the name of the
man that Harry said he fled from. Not willing to be run over at the
pleasure of Sneveley, on two occasions just before his escape serious
encounters had arisen between master and slave.
Henry being spirited and hungering for freedom, while his master was old
and hardened in his habits, very grave results had well nigh happened;
it was evident, therefore, in Harry's opinion that the sooner he took
his departure for Canada the better. His father's example was ever
present to encourage him, for he had escaped when Henry was a little
boy; (his name was Benjamin Tucker). A still greater incentive, however,
moved him, which was that his mother had been sold South five years
prior to his escape, since which time he had heard of her but once, and
that vaguely.
Although education was denied him, Henry had too much natural ability to
content himself under the heel of Slavery. He saw and understood the
extent of the wrongs under which he suffered, and resolved not to abide
in such a condition, if, by struggling and perseverance, he could avoid
it. In his resolute attempt he succeeded without any very severe
suffering. He was not large, rather below the ordinary size, of a brown
color, and very plucky.
* * * * *